Toy helicopters



1 1963 s. ROBBINS ETAL TOY HELICOPTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16,1961 wf 9 m w: w m 0 W406 T, 1.. UK, T B A d W Wm M TOY HELICOPTERS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 mwwm mm 3 @n mm E Q. Q Q w K E Q & E2 U mm 54 mm o o n 3 3% mm u p. I ww mm mm 0 O H mm MN. \fi R 0 MGQR awM Q v2 I s 3 Q @m m5 5w mnw N mm m w? N A W as S] Y B Q um w & Q W R Iwk United States Patent 3,093,929 TOY HELICOPTERS Saul Robbins, 35Mountain Way, West Orange, N.J., and Isaac Heller, 2080 Arrowwood Drive,Scotch Plains,

' Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 83,117

3 Claims. c1. 46-243) This invention relates to toys and, moreparticularly, to such simulating helicopters.

An object of our invention is to provide a miniature helicopter whichmay be used as a toy and which is motorized to simultaneously turn apair of carrying wheels, its propellers, and a winch for raising orlowering an associated chain.

Another object of our invention is to provide a toy helicopter having ahollow plastic body in which is enclosed an electric motor operated fromthe outside by a switch connecting said motor to enclosed batteries,said motor being geared through a common drive shaft to simultaneouslyturn its propellers, a pair of carrying wheels and at will operate anenclosed winch one way or the other.

A further object of our invention is to provide a toy helicopter whichis motorized for the operation of various parts thereof and which has ahollow body provided with a battery cover affording access to theenclosed operating batteries and a door affording access to the mainbody portion of the helicopter to allow for the insertion or removal oftoy accessories.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention,reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims. a

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts inthe several views:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a top helicopter embodying ourinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal mid-sectional View of the body ofthe helicopter to show the enclosed mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2,in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, inthe direction of the arrows.

. FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 1, in the direction of the arrows.

,Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a toy helicoptergenerally designated 11 and comprising a hollow body 12. This body isdesirably formed of a suitable plasticmaterial and conveniently made infour parts. The parts of the body include the nose or cabin portion 13,desirably formed of transparent plastic material. The portion '13 isinterlocked with respect to the main body sections 14 and 15 which aredesirably opaque except for transparent window portions 20 and engageone another along the approximate mid-vertical longitudinal plane of thebody.

These hollow body sections 14 and 15 are secured to one another in asuitable manner, as by means of screws 16 which extend transversely fromone section to another, passing through suitable apertures in onesection and received in suitably threaded sockets in the other. Thefourth section of the body is the tail portion 17, suitably interlockedwith respect to the rear end portions of the body halves 14 and 15 bymeans including in the present embodiment a latch device 18 hooking overa properly plalcelcg rib or the like 19 on each of the body halves 14 anThe helicopter is carried on three wheels, a single front wheel 21 and apair of drive wheels 22 and 23. The front wheel is desirably formed ofplastic material and has outstanding trunnion portions 24 turnablyreceived in corresponding sockets in brackets 25 and 26 dependingrespectively from the body halves 14 and 15. The drive wheels 22 and 23,also desirably formed of plastic material, are non-rotatably mounted onthe ends of a shaft or axle 2J7 non-circular, desirably square, insection, rotatable in bearing portions 28 and 29, disposed below therespective body halves 14 and 15. Slidable on said shaft 27 is a gear 31which has a hub with an aperture of a size and shape corresponding withthat of the shaft 27' so that, while it fits on said shaft, it will notturn thereabout. This is the gear which serves to drive the wheels 22and23 from an electric motor 32.

In order to mount the electric motor 32 and mechanism associatedtherewith for operation of the helicopter, we include a frame 33, whichmay be'formed of steel or other durable material. This frame 33 may bemounted on one of the body halves, such as 15, as by means of screws 34passing through apertures in said frame and received in correspondinglythreaded support columns 35, one of which is indicated in FIGURE 4. Theframe comprises flanges 36 and 37, projecting from the screw securedportion thereof as viewed in FIGURE 2, and carrying the armature shaft38 of the motor 32. The flange 36 also carries the common drive shaft 39for the helicopter mechanism at one portion and another portion of saidshaft 39 is carried by a flange 41 of said frame. The frame 33 alsoextends downwardly and is apertured to receive the shaft 27.

The common drive shaft carries at its upper end a double pulley 42,desirably formedof suitable plastic material and having an elongated hubportion 43, from the lower end portion of which projects a disc 44 towhich is secured a relatively large spur gear 45 serving to drive theshaft 39. Said gear 45 is driven through reduction gearing from themotor 32. This gearing, in the present embodiment, comprises a pinion 46fixed on the upper end of the armature shaft 38, meshing with a gear 47fixed with an associated pinion 48 on the upper end of a shaft 49carried by the flanges 36 and 37.

The gear 47 carries an outstanding crank arm 51 which, during turning,engages a leaf spring 52 secured to the body section 15, as by means ofa screw 53 and a stud 54 projecting from said body section 15 through ahole therein. The purpose of this spring is to make a noise simulatingthat made by a helicopter when in operation.

The pinion 48 meshes with the relatively large gear 45 so as to drive itand the shaft 39 at a reduced speed compared with that of the motor 32.On thelower end of the shaft 39 is secured a pinion 55 which meshes withthe gear 31, engagement therebetween beingcaused by said gear bearingagainst the lower portion of the frame 33.

The front propeller 56 has a hub portion 57 in which the stems of theblades 58 are received. Said hub portion is mounted on the upper end ofa shaft 59 mrnable in bearings 61 and 62 and held in place by suitablemeans such as a washer 63 secured to the body section 15 by a screw 64.The lower end of the shaft 59 carries a pulley 65 driven from the lowerportion of the double pulley 42 by suitable means such as a belt 66. t r

The rear propeller 67 has a hub 68 receiving the stems of the blades 69and mounted on the upper end of a shaft 71. The shaft is carried inupper and lower bearings 72 and 73 on the body section 15 and held inplace as by means of a plate74 secured to said body section asby meansof a screw 75 and a stud 76 received in an aperture adjacent one endthereof. The lower portion of the shaft 71 carries a pulley 77 which isdriven from the upper portion of the double pulley 42 by suitable meanssuchas a belt 78. i

Disposed in the body of the helicopter rearwardly cf the shaft 39 is ahoisting device or winch 79 comprising a drum 81. Toopposite ends ofsaid vdrum are fixed gears 82 and 83. Said drum 81 is mounted on a shaft84 turnable in bearings 85 and 86 provided respectively in the sections14 and .15 of the body. vIn order to hold the drum in a given positionuntil positively moved therefrom, drag means 87 is secured to one end ofthedrum' 8-1, as outside of the gear 83.

Said drag means may be in the form of a desirably plastic disc withradial ridges on its outer surface and engaged by a resilient pawl 88 torestrain movement thereof. This pawl 88, shown most clearly in FIGURE 3,is secured to a columnar member .89 projecting inwardly from the bodysection 14 as by means of a screw 91 and a stud 92 received in anaperture in the outer end portion thereof. The end of the pawl 88 whichengages. the member 87 is desirably curved, as illustrated, so that itwill permit motion in either direction after overcoming a predeterminedholding force.

The drum 81 is driven from the gear 45 through planetary pinion 94meshing therewith and secured to the upper end of a winch-operatingshaft 93 carried by the inner arm 95 of a bell-crank lever 96, providedwith a control arm or lever portion 97 which projects outside of thebody 12, for movement by an operator such as a child using the toy. Thelower end of the shaft 93 carries a pinion 98 which is movable, uponswinging thebellcrank lever about the shaft 39, to engage one of thegears 82 and 83 to the drum 81 in one direction or the other, The arm 95is biased to neutral position, as by a connected spring 99 with itsother end connected to the body 12 as by encircling a stud -101. Thusthe winch 79 is not turned in either direction unless and until anoperator moves the arm 97 to the bell-crank lever until the pinion 98engages one of the gears 82 and 83.

The motor 32 is powered by an electric battery which in this casecomprises dry cells 102 and 103, held in position in a batterycompartment104 of the body 12. They lie between resilient contact means105 and 106 at one side and an operating switch 107 provided a resilientcontact member 108at the other. Said member normally presses the battery10 3 against its contact strip 106 and, when in closed position,completes the circuit to the motor by pushing the other end portion ofsaid strip into engagement with the central contact ofthe battery 102.

The contactstrips 105 and 106 are at all times operatively connected tothe motor 32, so that said motor is energized upon moving the switch 107from the off to the on position, that is, from right to left, as viewedin FIGURES 1 and 5. The battery compartment 104 is normally closed by acover member 109 which is adapted to be removed by pushing to the left,as viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 2, and then pulling out. It may be replacedby hooking a left-hand ledge portion under a supporting shoulder on thebody and then pushing up on its other end portion until it snaps intoplace. There is also desirably a side or cargo door -111 for the body 12provided inthe section '15 and held by a spring 112 so that it will stayin either open or closed position, as desired.

In the use of the helicopter, the cells 102 and 103 are placed in thecompartment 104 so that they point in opposite directions, whereby theyare connected in series when in use. The propeller blades are desirablyinserted after the helicopter has been otherwise assembled and stood onits wheels. They are desirably arranged so that their stems snap easilyinto place in their hubs and so that they will enter only one way.

To start the helicopter 11, the switch 107 is moved to the on positionto energize the motor '32. The wheels and propellers will then turn, andthe helicopter will taxi along a floor or table. 'In operating the winch79, the helicopter 11 should be raised off the supporting surface,

as by the hand, with the switch 107 in the on position,

so that the motor is turning. Upon moving the control arm or lever '97backward or forward, the winch will operate to lift or lower the chain113 which may be a conventional bead chain, secured to its drum and ahook 114 and/or platform 1 15 suspended therefrom.

It will be understood that modifications and changes in the constructionand combination of the parts of the toy can be made within the spiritand scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a toy helicopter a hollow body, propellers journaled on said body,an operating mechanism frame see cured to and inside said body, a commondrive shaft jour'- naled on a vertical axis on said frame, means fordriving said propellers from said shaft, an electric motor, a battery, aswitch for energizing said motor from said battery for operation in onedirection, gearing between said shaft and said motor including arelatively large gear on said drive shaft for receiving power from saidmotor, wheels on' which said body may roll, means for driving some ofsaid wheels from said drive shaft, a winch carried by said body andincluding a drum on which a chain may be wound or from which 'it maybeunwound, a gear fixed at each ,end of said drum, winch control meanshaving an operating arm projecting outside of said body, a winchoperating shaft connected to said arm for actuation there by, a pinionfixed on the upper end portion of said operating shaft, meshing with andplanetary to said large gear, the pinion on the lower end portion ofsaid operating shaft being adapted to mesh with either of said drumgears 0r lie therebetween, means biasing said pinion so that itis'normally out of mesh with both of said drum gears whereby, when themotor is running, an operator may move the operating arm one way or theother'to cause the winch to wind or unwind the chain with respectthereto.

2. In a toy helicopter, a hollow body, a propeller with a shaft pivotedin the upper portion of said body adjacent opposite ends thereof, apropeller pulley on the lower end of each shaft, an operating mechanismframe secured inside said body, a common drive shaft for said propellerscarried by said frame, puiley means on said drive shaft, beltsconnecting said pulley means to said propeller pulleys, an electricmotor adapted to be connected through a switch to a battery foroperation in one direction, reduction gearing betweensaid shaft and saidmotor, including a relatively large gear on the former, for transmittingpower from said motor, three wheels on which said body may roll, an axlenon-circular in section carrying a pair of said wheels and disposedbeneath said drive shaft, a. pinion on the lower end of said driveshaft, a gear with a hub fitting on said axle so as to rotate therewith,said gear meshing with said pinion to be driven thereby, a winch carriedby said body and including a shaft and a carried drum on which a chainmay be wound or from which it may be unwound, a pair of similar gearsone fixed at each end of said drum, said gears having teeth projectingtoward one another, a bell crank with one arm for operating projectingoutside of said body and the other arm inside said body and extending ataright angle to said operating arm, a winch operating shaft carried inthe tree end portion of said other arm, a pinion fixed on the upper endportion of said operating shaft, meshing with and planetary to saidlarge gear, a pinion on the lower end portion of said operating shaft,adapted to mesh with either of said drum gears or lie therebetween, aspring biasing said other arm so that said lower pinion is normally outof mesh with both of said drum gears, whereby when the motor is running,an operator may swing the operating arm one way or the other to causesaid lower pinion to engage one or the other of the drum gears and causethe winch to wind a chain thereon, or unwind it therefrom as desired,drag means on one end of said drum, and a resilient pawl engaging saiddrag means to hold the drum in position until positively moved by saidmotor.

3. A toy helicopter comprising a hollow body having a mechanism frametherein, a propeller journaled on said body, a drive shaft journaled insaid frame on a vertical axis, a motor mounted on said frame, reductiongearing between said drive shafit and said motor, driving connectionsbetween the upper end of said drive shafit and said propeller, an axlehaving a pair of wheels thereon journale d in said body on a horizontalaxis, a pinion on the lower end of said drive shaft, and a gear coaxially mounted on said axle to rotate therewith, said gear meshing with saidpinion so as to be driven thereby upon operation of said motor andthereby drive said wheels, a Winch including a drum journaled on saidbody, a gear fixed at each end of said drum, a Winch operating shaft, alever pivoted 6 on said body on which said winch operating shaft isjournaled, a driving connection between said winch operating shaft andsaid drive shaft, a pinion on said winch operating shaft to meshseleotively with said gears on said drum, and means for actuating saidlever to move said last-mentioned pinion into mesh with one or the otherof said gears on the drum while maintaining the driving connectionbetween said drive shaft and said winch operating shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,035,583 Hamilton Aug. 13, 1912 1,829,474 Chil owsky Oct. 27, 19311,878,955 Mantell Sept. 20, 1932 2,732,656 Cohn Jan. 31, 1956 2,860,447Muller et al. Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,828 Germany Ian. 21,1916 506,802 Great Britain June 2, 1939

3. A TOY HELICOPTER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING A MECHANISM FRAMETHEREIN, A PROPELLER JOURNALED ON SAID BODY, A DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALED INSAID FRAME ON A VERTICAL AXIS, A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, REDUCTIONGEARING BETWEEN SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND SAID MOTOR, DRIVING CONNECTIONSBETWEEN THE UPPER END OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND SAID PROPELLER, AN AXLEHAVING A PAIR OF WHEELS THEREON JOURNALED IN SAID BODY ON A HORIZONTALAXIS, A PINION ON THE LOWER END OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT, AND A GEARCOAXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID AXLE TO ROTATE THEREWITH, SAID GEAR MESHINGWITH SAID PINION SO AS TO BE DRIVEN THEREBY UPON OPERATION OF SAID MOTORAND THEREBY DRIVE SAID WHEELS, A WINCH INCLUDING A DRUM JOURNALED ONSAID BODY, A GEAR FIXED AT EACH END OF SAID DRUM, A WINCH OPERATINGSHAFT, A LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID BODY ON WHICH SAID WINCH OPERATING SHAFTIS JOURNALED, A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID WINCH OPERATING SHAFTAND SAID DRIVE SHAFT, A PINION ON SAID WINCH OPERATING SHAFT TO MESHSELECTIVELY WITH SAID GEARS ON SAID DRUM, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAIDLEVER TO MOVE SAID LAST-MEMTIONED PINION INTO MESH WITH ONE OR THE OTHEROF SAID GEARS ON THE DRUM WHILE MAINTAINING THE DRIVING CONNECTIONBETWEEN SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND SAID WINCH OPERATING SHAFT.